Follow-Up.

I am pleased to report that my meeting at the elementary school went really well.  The meeting was to talk about my son's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) when I was young they called this Special Ed, and unfortunately there is still sometimes a stigma attached.

L's IEP is for speech.  He is much improved now, but when he first started school he was very hard to understand, he has issues with  SH, ZH, CH, J, etc..but the most troublesome one was "L"...This was terrible for him because not only does his first name start with L, so does our last name.  It was heartbreaking that, try as he might, no one could get his name right unless he spelled it.  When he was evaluated, at 7 years of age, his conversational intelligibility was around 80%, which is more what you would expect from a 4 year-old (this refers to his understandability...not language or vocabulary skills...)

This along with the other speech issues began to effect his self-esteem, socialization, and his spelling and reading.  I will never forget the day he was able to say his name properly...he was so excited and proud...

So at the meeting it was decided that L would continue with his speech IEP and we also were able to talk about some of the other issues that he is struggling with, like his disorganization and distractedness.  L's teacher moved him to a new desk that faces some bookcases and would require him to turn all the way around before he was able to see anyone else...and on top of that he wears ear muffs.  I went to a sporting-goods store and bought some ear protection that you would wear while shooting.  He LOVES them...he even wears them to the cafeteria.   He has been able to complete his independent work on time so something is working.   Even L just THINKING they are helping is doing wonders.

So to my brilliant friend, Heather (aka Prairie Mother):  thank you, thank you, thank you!